Kishore Choudhary was shot at eight times in the head and nine times in his chest at Shiv Amrut building in Thakurli

Four men allegedly barged into a Thakurli flat on Tuesday and shot 17 rounds at a building contractor – Kishore Choudhary, 48 — killing him on the spot.

According to the police, eight bullets struck Choudhary’s head and nine went into his chest.

The shooting took place at Shiv Amrut building in Thakurli, where he was overseeing renovation, the police said.

His friend and business partner, Nitin Joshi,45, who was with him at the time, was hit once.

He is being treated at a city hospital.

The police said the four shooters had six accomplices, who stood guard outside the ground-floor flat.

The neighbours heard the sound of firing around noon, after which they rushed there and also alerted the police.

The 10 men fled in a four-wheeler, police said.

Four of the accused were identified as Shankar Gowardhan Bhoir, Dilip Gowardhan Bhoir, Sagar Dilip Bhoir and Suraj Dilip Bhoir, the police said.

According to local residents, the four were contractors and also owned houses in the area.

The police said a few days ago, Choudhary and the suspects had a spat over a contract for renovating a house in the area.

Choudhary had filed a complaint with the Dombivli police over the dispute and alleged threat.

“It was found that the two parties had clashed right after the flat was taken for renovation. The victims were threatened, after which a non-cognisable complaint had been registered,” said Abhishek Trimukhe, deputy commissioner of police, Thane crime branch.

“We have registered a case of rioting , attempt to murder , and murder under the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Fire Arms Act. We suspect the accused have fled to their hometowns,” said S Nagarkar, senior police inspector, Thane crime branch.